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Black Surgeon Alexander Augusta writes about the discrimination his wife endured on the train from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.
A.T. Augusta (surgeon, 7th USCT) to Maj. Gen. Lewis Wallace (cmdg Middle Department & 8th Army Corps) alleging that the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. charges Black passengers the same fare yet forces them into the front car of the train, which is filled with…
Formerly enslaved Matilda Johnson petitions the Freedmen's Bureau for the return of her children and household goods, after which the agency waived her right to her children
Series of complaints around property rights and apprenticeship for Black residents of Anne Arundel County. Of special interest are the two complaints by Matilda Johnson relating to her children and household goods being held illegally by by James…
Black residents of Baltimore petition for redress after they are prevented from renting a concert hall to host a lecture by Frederick Douglass
B.R. Hawley to Edwin M. Stanton (sec of war) writing that Black residents of Baltimore have been unable to rent either the Maryland Institute Hall or the Templers Hall for a lecture meeting at which the announced speaker was Frederick Douglass. The…
Union officer orders local officials in Havre de Grace to permit Frederick Douglass to give a lecture there
Brig. Gen. H.H. Lockwood to Lt. Col. Lawrence (AAAG) opposing intention of town authorities of Havre de Grace to prevent Frederick Douglass from speaking there. Says Douglass's speeches are sensible and would do much good.
Black Marylander reveals the location of hidden rebel arms on the property of a future Maryland state senator
Brig. Gen. H.H. Lockwood to Lt. Col. Lawrence (AAG) reporting that in the summer of 1861 he obtained information from a Black Marylander that Mr. [William B.] Stevenson had a quantity of guns stored in his barn. Mr. Stevenson is now the senator-elect…
Two escaped Black Marylanders reveal hidden rebel weapons cache to the army
Lt D. C. Clark to Capt Chas Corbit enclosing two affidavits from formerly enslaved Black Marylanders revealing the location of a hidden cache of rebel weapons as well as the details of their escape to join the Union Army.
The deputy provost marshal for Kent County reports that local officials used state indenture laws to facilitate the theft of Black children by former enslavers
Bartus Trew (Deputy Prov. Marshal for Kent Co.) to Major Este informing Este that over one hundred free Black children have been bound out by the county Orphan’s Court without the consent of their parents. Trew reports receiving numerous complaints…
Several surgeons of Black regiments write to Lincoln complaining about having to serve under a Black officer, Surgeon Alexander Augusta
J.B. McPherson et. al. to Lincoln protesting the assignment of Surgeon Alexander Augusta. Claim their commitment to "bettering" Black Americans but assert that it is beneath their dignity to serve with him as their superior officer. A subsequent…
White officers discuss how to handle a Black New York soldier who enlisted in a white unit stationed at Fort McHenry
William Lee (capt NY vols) to Adj of NY Vols writing that he received a group of 46 men in which there was a Black man, George Tankard of NY. Lee states that he has put Tankard to work in the kitchen, and he feels that it would be unsafe to drill or…
Kitty Bowland claims her son was illegally arrested and forced into the Army
Statement of Mrs. Kitty Bowland that her son was arrested and then impressed into the army by the local justice of the peace.